>I could get past whatever it is that makes it so hard for me to >understand the syntax of these newer features.
There's an interesting project for someone: a lanuage preprocessor for SORT which accepts a different syntax, and produces SORT control statements; or a "wrapper" which does the same thing. Maybe a "sort wizard" also, to help someone build the sort they need? I don't personally have a problem with the syntax, but I know a lot of people seem to. I think, also, that we're seeing more "zNextGen" types who don't usually code control statements for a sort, they (I guess) set up a sort via drop-down menus and the like - which makes the learning curve of sort syntax (any mainframe sort tool, not just IBM's) a pretty big hurdle to jump. Unfortunately I don't think non-functional improvement to mainframe sorts (i.e. allowing a different syntax without adding new capabilities) is going to get a lot of new customers, so I don't know if an economic case can be made for building a new language for it. Tim Hare Senior Systems Programmer Florida Department of Transportation (850) 414-4209 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
